And so, Claire and Amelia landed on the hard floor of the Sidewalk. The pain ran through the Girls' bodies and while a few passers-by made a detour around the two Kids, it was Claire who was the first to get up and inspect the Area. They were in a Park but what happened?
"Amelia? Are you alright? Can you get up?", - Claire looked down at the younger Girl. The dark hair had been untied, the hair tie was on the floor and her cousin was lying on her stomach on the Sidewalk, her face turned to the left so Claire couldn't see the emotional state reflected there.
An affirmative grunt sounded seconds later and Claire watched as the younger Hargreeves rolled onto her side and grimaced. There were definitely softer ways to land on a sidewalk than belly first.
"...where are we Claire?", Amelia spoke up, using her hands to steady herself on the floor and stand up. The light brown skin on the face had gotten a little dirt and the large light green eyes looked around questioningly. Neither of the two girls could identify the park in which they were.
"I don't know... there was just all this Chaos in the Academy and then we ended up here all of a sudden", Claire tried to understand what had happened.
"Did Wesley come too?", Amelia asked cautiously.
"Um...I'm not sure...I just saw you disappear in a green light", Claire explained, looking around. Passers-by in the park still seemed to be paying no attention to the duo or simply ignoring the Kids. Maybe they also believed that their parents were not far away.
"There's a snack stand over there and they have newspapers there! Maybe we can find out what happened that way", Claire suggested, and the two cousins made their way to the nearby snack truck stand, which sold a current issue of daily newspapers.
Amelia tried to stand on tiptoe while Claire grabbed one of the newspapers; just to check the current date. She was kind enough to drop the cover a bit ; so her cousin could have a look too.
"March 13th, 2019...and we're in New York City...like before that green light thingy happend...", Claire spoke, putting the newspaper back before the food truck owner could request payment. It didn't seem to be any different, after all they lived in New York City and the time before the Chaos in the living room broke - out was also March 13, 2019.
"What is the Sparrow Academy?", Amelia's puzzled voice made Claire look confused down at her cousin, who was pointing her finger at some celebrity magazines - above the regular Magazines.
"Living behind the Moon?! The Hargreeves are the Superstars of all of New York City! There even have action figures with their logo and handbags. This is the famous superhero Family! How can you never have heard of the Sparrow Academy!" - a boy around Claire's age had heard the Girl's question and looked at the Hargreeves like she was being totally old-fashioned and crazy Person.
"No, it's the Umbrella Academy...", Claire blurted out, unable to relate to the boy's words.
"What kind of stupid name is that for a Superhero family?", the Boy laughed and he seemed to laugh at Claire for this statement before he continued on his way through the park.
"...we should go home Amelia. Something doesn't seem right. Maybe Grandma and Pogo know more", Claire grabbed her smaller cousin's hand determinedly and tried to find a way out of this Park.
Amelia remained silent thoughtfully, marveling at the boy's Reaction. He had spoken of Sparrow Academy. She had never heard that term from her late dad, nor from the other family Members, and even Reginald Hargreeves had always spoken of the Umbrella Academy.
"Look Claire! There!" - Amelia gestured with her free hand to a Poster by the park Entrance.
"What the hell..." - Claire let go of the girl's hand and walked towards the poster in confusion.
It showed a family in superhero Suits. But it wasn't the typical suits of the Umbrellas but...others. The strange faces didn't mean anything to Claire either.
Her eyes darted too quickly over the picture and the spell written underneath.
"...listen to this Amelia - Crime is the Problem - Sparrow Academy - We are the Solution - " - Claire read what the poster said.
These superheroes definitely made an Impression. And it wasn't a good one for the Hargreeves. It frightened her that suddenly these strangers were the center of Attention and no one seemed to know about the Umbrella Academy.
"...Grandma will know what to do...she always does", - Claire encouraged herself and Amelia as the girls continued on their way. But in this Version of New York City, they were soon to fall down towards a painful truth.
...
Starting with the Fact that Sparrow Academy was besieged from afar by fans of the superhero family & that it had a clever sophisticated security system, that prevented any entry through the front door.
Sir Reginald Hargreeves really seemed to have invested a little more in security and surveillance.
They wouldn't just walk into the academy and ask Grace for Advice.
"Don't stand in the Way!" - the two cousins were pushed aside by a couple of teenagers holding up a big 'We love you Marcus' sign.
To get some distance, the two took a side street leading away from the Academy building.
"...we'll work it out, don't worry...we just have to find an Adult", Claire tried to come up with a Plan. But her voice cracked.
How are you supposed to make a plan all by yourself? Was there anyone who could help them? What about their families? What happened to Wesley? Perhaps they were already looking for them?
"Can we buy Ice Cream?", Amelia asked curiously, pointing to an ice cream truck near a playground.
"We...we don't have time for this!...we have to find our family and you want ice cream?", Claire breathed uncertainly.
"Ice cream with chocolate sauce and sprinkles...", Amelia beamed, pulling a ten dollar bill out of her jacket pocket.
As if that would solve all their problems.
"Ice helps ...making plans", Amelia claimed.
"Maybe later...it has to...is that Aunt Vanya?!" - Claire wanted to have said something else, but she thought she saw her aunt Vanya take a turn in the path...or rather limp as if she had injured herself. Hope flared up in the 13th year old.
"...Mom, Wesley and the others will definitely be here, when Aunt Vanya is here - let's follow her Amelia!", Claire spoke quickly and ran after Vanya.
A dissatisfied grunt came from Amelia, but she followed her as fast as her little feet could carry her.
Nevertheless, Claire was of course faster and the path led to a large lake with many picnic benches.
Claire wanted to run and hug her Mom, but before she could take a step forward, Claire felt a slight pain in her right hand and her body threatened to shrink.
"Are you crazy? Let go of me Lia!", she hissed at her Cousin, who tried to protect her behind a large tree by tugging at her hand.
But she didn't get very far as Claire found it easy to ignore the effects of the Gift...it wouldn't be the first time Lia had used her gift on her...mostly to protect her.
But now she didn't want protection.
Roughly she yanked skin contact from the younger girl, causing Amelia to stumble and fall backwards onto the Grass.
"...maybe dangerous...like Sparrows...Lia & Claire careful?", Amelia whispered worried.
"This is our Family and I'm going to my Mom now!" - Claire said with conviction.
"...and if you try to use your Ability on me again, you'll regret it!", Claire added, still grumpy.
"...but...", Amelia was really just trying to make it clear , that they were in a place that was unknown and could be dangerous.
...okay Luther has a concussion," Allison spoke in a worried tone.
And the concern in her Voice was just enough to make Claire act instinctively.
The 13-year-old girl ignored Amelia's hand gesture to remain hidden , because the 'perhaps dangerous adults' could harm them.
She wanted to be with her mom and tell her what happened.
...
"...Mom! You're fine. We couldn't find Wesley and...something's wrong...you're bleeding? Mom, why are you bleeding?"
Several pairs of eyes turned to Claire and Allison looked confused at the Girl she addressed as Mom.
"...is that also part of the Concussion?" - came it from Klaus, fascinated, who slowly sat up on the picnic table.
"I think you're mistaken me with someone...", Allison spoke and Claire shook her head.
How was she supposed to confuse her mother with someone else? But why did her mother have blood on her face?
"It's me Mom - Claire. We were in the living room at the Academy and then all of a sudden we showed up here, remember?" - the relief in Claire's voice was replaced by a hint of frustration. Maybe her mother had a concussion too.
"...wait here, the Photo...you gave it to me for Christmas last year , after I was so sad about Dad's Whatsapp status with...the stupid new baby!", - Claire wanted to help her Mother and took a photo out of her purse, that she always carried with her.
It showed the mother and daughter at Disneyland, with Minnie Mouse ears and a big grin on their faces. This Claire in the photo was 12 years old. Not the little girl Allison had left behind during the time warp to Texas.
"Claire? But...how...?" - Allison stammered and her motherly feelings overwhelmed her and she carefully pulled her Daughter into a hug.
"I would remember if we had jumped a few years into the future instead of a few days...wouldn't you guys?" , Vanya asked cautiously.
"Five? What's going on here?!", Diego wanted to know impatiently.
"I told you so. Time travel is complicated! But for a Teenager Claire I still don't have an Explanation. If you would listen to me, I wouldn't have to repeat myself all the time!", Five said annoyed.
How many times did he actually have to repeat himself? No one in that family was listening and having Allison's teenage daughter standing here was less productive...it was weird.
"...wait, you were talking about your Dad, Claire? What did you mean - the new baby?", Allison broke the hug and gave her Daughter a questioning look.
Claire wanted to answer, but stopped when she realized that Amelia had cautiously, almost intimidated, left her hiding place and crossed the small wooden bridge towards the picnic benches.
"You know that Mom. We had an hour long argument and...", Claire paused and signaled her cousin to come closer. The dark-haired girl with Diego's skin color and light green eyes looked from Claire to Allison and then to Diego.
"...not Lia's Daddy. Does Claire remember? Grandma ... very upset at daddy's Funeral. Not reality ...Uncle Fivey told...that..." before Amelia could say , that Five had explained to her multiple times about the problems with time, other timelines and time travel, she was interrupted by Klaus , who of course had picked up the detail that Diego had apparently created a new life.
"I have two Nieces and our Diego was successful with his bed adventure stories. Why am I just now finding out about it now?" - Klaus said dramatically and stretched out his hands in the direction of Amelia - almost as if he wanted to give free hugs.
Timidly, Amelia took a step towards Klaus. He reminded her of her Uncle Klaus... only his hair was longer and he wore a cowboy hat. And a chain dangled from his neck.
The girl felt the exhaustion gnawing at her and more out of a reflex she raised her arms to be picked up. Of course, Klaus didn't let himself be told this request a second time.
"Yay, I'm an Uncle , Mom would be so proud", said Klaus, visibly happy about the situation.
"Five? You haven't given us an explanation yet?", Diego asked skeptically. Who didn't trust either the teenager Claire or the girl who looked so much like him and claimed to be his Daughter. Not to mention the Sparrows - those assholes.
Five took a deep breath and then uttered the following statement.
"Obviously, another alternate time line crossed this one during the time Jump. But it takes me more than five minutes to become aware of the new circumstances and changes...so please can you give me more than five Minutes?"